Russia - 'Have Apec disaster aid system'

HELPING VICTIMS FAST: Malaysia suggests using mechanisms in operation now

VLADIVOSTOK (Russia): MALAYSIA yesterday called on Asia-Pacific economies to develop a region-wide emergency response system based on mechanisms already in operation within the smaller Asean region.

Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) could expand mechanisms such as the Asean Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response.

In his intervention at the Ministerial Meetings, leading to the 2012 Apec leaders summit here, Anifah said such a Pacific-wide system would include information on specific expertise possessed by each member economy to build a disaster-resilient community.

"These mechanisms could also contribute to timely adoption of best practices, as well as drawing on the expertise that each member economy possesses and avoiding economies from having to re-invent the wheel."

Anifah said focus must be given to help quickly the people suffering as a result of any disaster.

Asean nations have participated in many disaster relief efforts, both regionally and internationally.

Learning from these experiences, Malaysia has contributed towards the emergency preparedness and resilience by being host to the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot at the Subang Air Base in Kuala Lumpur.

Anifah said various countries had unique experiences in handling disasters. "We should leverage on each other's expertise and resources to ensure effective delivery of assistance."

Apec leaders will start arriving tomorrow for the annual summit with issues such as food security, the environment and promoting innovation taking centre stage.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is expected to arrive tomorrow and will meet leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

MUSTAPHA KAMILhttp://www.nst.com.my/

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